Ao Tu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Ao Tu is a transmigrator who entered the world as the Jing River Dragon King’s fifth son. After his father was schemed against and executed, Ao Run arranged posts for the displaced brothers. Ao Tu’s steady disposition led to his appointment as Bell Keeper for the Buddha in the Western Heaven 1 21.

He initially avoided activating his system’s main quest. His long dragon lifespan, peaceful post, and steadily improving cultivation gave him little reason to enter a great tribulation in which obscured heavenly secrets made mistakes potentially fatal 1.

That changed after he absorbed the starter gift of true dragon essence blood. His breakthrough made him strong enough to serve as a pilgrimage ordeal, attracting Ananda’s attention. Ananda immobilized him so that he missed his bell-ringing duty, intending to send him into the mortal realm and later subdue him for merit. Ao Tu accused Ananda before Tathagata, but was still sentenced to Three Thousand Incense Boards; Tathagata also stated that Ananda would receive punishment 1 6.

Appearance

• Original dragon form: A Four-Clawed Yellow Dragon. His impure golden-dragon bloodline accounts for his yellow coloration 1 6.
• True-dragon form: After reaching Golden Immortal, his old scales fall away and are replaced by golden scales; each claw gains a fifth digit. His horns curve sinuously, and the pearl beneath his neck begins developing the embryonic form of a small world 14.
• Human form: Handsome and noble-looking, with dragon horns, golden scales on his brow, and eyes bright with divine vigor. At Yellow Wind Ridge, he wears a gold-embroidered immortal’s brocade robe and a flying-dragon crown 15 38.
• Monk disguise: Takes Tang Sanzang’s appearance and transforms two scales into a Brocade Kasaya and Nine-Ringed Monk’s Staff. His residual Buddhist aura and knowledge of scripture make the disguise especially convincing 7.
• Daoist disguise: Wears a Purple-Gold Flying Mountain Crown, Eight Trigrams Dragon-Tiger Robe, Cloud-Riding Heaven-Climbing Boots, and the Dragon-Binding Rope as a belt 40.

Personality

Ao Tu begins as cautious and security-minded. Even after entering the pilgrimage conflict, he recognizes when strength alone is insufficient: he rejects an alliance with the Black Bear Spirit because neither of them could withstand Guanyin, choosing deception instead 1 2.

His experiences with Ananda turn caution into an urgent pursuit of power. Watching Buddhist yakshas sacrificed to manufacture merit reinforces his belief that weakness leaves him vulnerable to others’ schemes. He retaliates without hesitation, destroying the yakshas and later killing Ananda 6 23.

He frequently mocks Buddhist authority and exposes contradictions between its teachings and its representatives’ conduct. During the marriage trap, he knowingly humiliates the disguised Bodhisattvas while exploiting their need to maintain the deception 25 31 33 34.

His generosity coexists with calculation and emotional distance. He gives grain and silver to poor villagers, rescues Qiao’er’s parents, and improves their home, yet incorporates these acts into his obstruction plans. Before making his marriage real, he explicitly warns Qiao’er that he intends to leave and will not promise a lasting place beside him 10 39 49.

Abilities & Skills

Journey to the West Obstructor System

The system rewards Ao Tu for delaying the Pilgrim, with a main objective of obstructing the journey and preventing Buddhism’s rise to greatness 1.

• Regional side quests calculate rewards according to the duration of obstruction 6 14 40.
• Reward lists change between quest areas and include cultivation resources, spells, formations, spiritual treasures, and supernatural abilities 6 14 25 40.
• Progress can continue after his scheme is exposed while the pilgrims are still traveling out of the relevant region 5.
• Surplus days carry into later quests, allowing him to begin new areas with existing progress 13 24 38 48.
• Several rewarded arts arrive with their principles already mastered 6 24 38.

Dragon Bloodline and Innate Powers

Ao Tu’s bloodline grants offensive metal energy and a substantial advantage in water 6 30.

• Golden breath: Releases sharp metal energy as fine golden rays capable of destroying both body and soul 6 14.
• Dragon claws: Projects streaks of golden radiance through claw attacks 29 35.
• Underwater combat: His innate supernatural ability greatly increases his advantage beneath the surface 30.
• Healing dragon qi: Awakens unconscious people and heals Qiao’er’s wounded wrist 38 39.
• Limit: His bloodline does not compensate fully for inferior martial skill. Against Wukong in the air, he loses ground after more than thirty exchanges and suffers damage to his tail 29.

Five-Colored Divine Light

Mastered after the Flowing Sand River quest, the ability manifests as green, yellow, red, white, and black rays corresponding to the five elements 33.

• Sweeps away opponents and spiritual treasures together, including beings above Ao Tu’s cultivation realm 25 38.
• Captures heavenly forces, the eighteen Arhats, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and eventually Guanyin 37 38.
• Sweeps up Guanyin’s divine water and stores treasures within its colored radiance 38 45.
• Limit: Holding numerous or powerful captives consumes enormous magical power. Ao Tu must release them when he can no longer sustain the ability 38.
• Development: Zhen Yuanzi advises him to strengthen it with complementary treasures of the five elements 46.

Transformation and Impersonation

Ao Tu uses disguises to redirect the pilgrimage without immediately revealing himself 3 7 28 40.

• Impersonates Ananda to manipulate monastery monks and a magistrate 3 4.
• Impersonates Tang Sanzang to accept Bajie as a disciple and establish obligations at Gao Village 7 8 9.
• Takes Tiger Vanguard’s likeness to surprise Bajie with much greater strength 28.
• Poses as a Daoist under the title Vozhu Zhenshi Heavenly Venerable 40.
• Limit: Sun Wukong’s Fiery Golden Eyes identify his true form at Wuzhuang Temple 43.

Movement and Escape Arts

• Earth-Traveling Golden Light: Instantly mastered as a system reward; allows escape from confinement and rapid flight. Ao Tu uses it to evade the disguised Bodhisattvas and flee four thousand li during Guanyin’s pursuit 24 34 38.
• Earth-Escape Technique: Obtained when the Wuzhuang Temple quest settles 48.
• Pointing to the Ground Turns It to Steel: Received with complete mastery after the Four Saints quest 38.

Art of Moving Mountains

Ao Tu can lift and move smaller mountains through hand seals, incantations, and magical power 6.

• Cannot move great renowned peaks such as Mount Tai or Mount Hua 6.

Red Sand Formation

A formation diagram obtained after Yellow Wind Ridge deploys the arrangements of the Red Sand Formation when supplied with magical power 24.

• Pins down Sun Wukong’s body and primordial spirit through repeated applications of red sand 28.
• Allows Ao Tu to observe a trapped opponent without being visible to them 29.
• Can be recalled into its diagram by command 24 29.
• Ao Tu withdraws it when Wukong prepares to use a Life-Saving Hair as a drill, fearing damage to the diagram 29.

Cultivation and Buddhist Arts

• Inherited Dragon Race cultivation art: Originates from the era when heaven and earth first opened; belongs to neither Daoism nor Buddhism 46.
• Understanding of the Five Elements: His mastery of the Five-Colored Divine Light lets him contribute to discussions of this subject with Zhen Yuanzi 46.
• Scripture recitation: Learned through his former Buddhist service and used to reinforce his monk disguise 7.
• Rebirth Mantra: Received with complete mastery after the Four Saints quest 38.
• Six-Character True Words: Obtained after Wuzhuang Temple. Described as useful for combat, healing, and averting calamity, but dependent on the practitioner’s cultivation and magical power 40 48.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Five-Fire Divine Flame Fan / Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan — A top-tier houtian spiritual treasure formed from seven birds’ feathers and five fires. Ao Tu obtains it after Gao Village, uses it to kill Ananda, burns Sha Wujing into submission, and forces Wukong to retreat 2 13 23 24 29.
• Dark Gold Iron Staff Spear — A size-changing spear with a golden head that projects golden light; its power depends on the wielder’s magical power. Ao Tu uses it against Bajie and Wukong 24 28 29.
• Water-Reversing Seal — A houtian spiritual treasure given by Ao Run. Effective underwater, where Ao Tu uses it to ambush Wukong; Wukong counters it with a Glazed Bowl, which acquires cracks 23 29 30.
• Dragon-Binding Rope — A top-tier houtian spiritual treasure worn around his waist. Binds Guanyin temporarily and subdues Lady White Bone, preventing her from moving or summoning magic 25 33 37 39.
• Headache Chime — A plague-bringing instrument whose strike inflicts pestilential qi and unbearable headaches. Obtained after Flowing Sand River, then stored 25 33.
• Third-Grade Golden Lotus — A defensive houtian spiritual treasure derived from the Twelfth-Grade Merit Golden Lotus. Its platform is described as rendering the user impervious to spells 38.
• Three-Lights Divine Water — Captured from Guanyin. When combined, its three waters can restore life and heal immortal trees and spiritual seedlings 38 45.
• True Dragon Pearl — Initially stored in his belly as a cultivation resource and potential Golden Immortal-level attack. Consumed during his Golden Immortal tribulation 6 14.
• Ginseng Fruits and tree branch — Obtains three fruits, eats one, and nurtures the remaining two alongside a branch within his Five-Colored Divine Light 48.
• Medicinal resources — Obtains golden elixirs, true dragon essence blood, and several varieties of Peaches of Immortality. Saves a Nine-Thousand-Year Purple-Patterned Peach for emergencies after a lesser peach restores his strength during Guanyin’s pursuit 6 13 33 38.
• Three-Turn Soul-Reviving Pill — Stored for future use 33.
• Taiyi Purple-Gold Elixir — Received upon settlement of the Wuzhuang Temple quest; consumption is not documented 48.
• Golden Flower — Received from Ananda and later given to Bajie 6 10.

Relationships

• Jing River Dragon King — Father. Ao Tu considers his death unjust and vows revenge before his spirit tablet 1 36.
• Ao Run — West Sea uncle and former benefactor. Arranges Ao Tu’s Buddhist post and gives him the Water-Reversing Seal. Ao Tu stages a treasury raid to avoid implicating him, but later binds him when he attempts to negotiate surrender 21 23 31.
• Ao Guang — East Sea uncle. Ao Tu imprisons him at Yellow Wind Ridge and publicly severs kinship to distance the Four Seas from his actions, then attacks him as heavenly forces intervene 19 21.
• Little Alligator Dragon — Ninth brother. Resents his older brothers for abandoning their father’s feud; Ao Tu leaves Tiger Vanguard’s cubs in his care 24.
• Ananda — Instigator and eventual victim. Engineers Ao Tu’s missed duty, uses him to manufacture pilgrimage ordeals and merit, and is killed by Ao Tu’s fan 1 6 23.
• Sun Wukong — Recurring opponent whose martial skill exceeds Ao Tu’s. Their rivalry develops mutual admiration; Wukong declines to join the mass attack against him 29 38.
• Tang Sanzang — Primary obstruction target. Repeatedly imprisoned or delayed through Ao Tu’s schemes 4 15 29 43.
• Zhu Bajie — Accepts Ao Tu as master while he impersonates Tang Sanzang and receives the name Bajie from him. Later becomes his opponent and captive 8 28 29.
• Great Sage Yellow Wind — Sworn younger brother and ally in capturing Tang Sanzang. They separate after Ananda’s death 15 23.
• Tiger Vanguard — Subordinate and traveling companion. Ao Tu rescues him and his sons, equips them, and carries him during their escape; Tiger Vanguard offers to sacrifice himself during Guanyin’s pursuit 23 38.
• Sha Wujing — Defeated, healed, and recruited to stage a false obstruction under the alias Sha Tuolong 24 25 29.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva — Persistent pursuer. Ao Tu turns her marriage trap against her, temporarily captures her, and takes her divine water 33 34 37 38.
• Zhen Yuanzi — Host and cultivation mentor. Teaches Ao Tu the Dao, helps him reach middle Golden Immortal, and advises him on strengthening the Five-Colored Divine Light 46.
• Lady White Bone / Jingjing — Subdued subordinate ordered to obstruct the approaching pilgrims. Ao Tu later presents her to Qiao’er as his younger sister 39 48.
• Qiao’er — Initially recruited for a pretend courtship after he rescues her parents. Their wedding becomes a real marriage at her request, despite his warning that he will eventually leave 39 48 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Guanyin Monastery

• Impersonates Ananda and convinces Guangzhi and Guangmou that Tang Sanzang and Wukong burned the monastery to steal its treasures 3.
• Exploits the magistrate’s greed to have the pilgrims arrested, then demands a thirty-three-day feast and rites under threat of Avici Hell 4.
• Flees when Wukong detects interference. Continued travel out of the region brings the settled obstruction total to twenty-seven days 5.

Gao Village

• Disguises himself as Tang Sanzang, accepts Bajie as a disciple, and has him release Gao Cuilan 7 8.
• Sells farmland cheaply and promises that he and his disciple will remain until reclamation is complete, leaving the real pilgrimage party entangled in the obligation 8 9 13.
• Gives assistance to poor households, then leaves Bajie awaiting his supposed senior brother 10.
• The quest settles thirty-three days of rewards after the pilgrims cross Fuling Mountain; three excess days carry forward 13.

Yellow Wind Ridge

• Becomes Great Sage Yellow Wind’s sworn brother and promises protection against Lingji’s countermeasures. Tiger Vanguard lures away the disciples and captures Tang Sanzang 15.
• Keeps Ao Guang and Bajie captive and sends Wukong searching for a fabricated origin of the fan 19 21.
• Kills Ananda, evacuates with Tiger Vanguard and his cubs, and raids the West Sea treasury before receiving Ao Run’s seal 23.
• The obstruction settles at sixty-four days, with thirty-four carried into the Flowing Sand River quest 24.

Flowing Sand River

• Defeats Sha Wujing and has him rename the river marker “Black Water River” while posing as a fisherman 24.
• Traps Wukong in the Red Sand Formation, then captures Tang Sanzang and Bajie after the formation is withdrawn 27 28 29.
• Uses the Water-Reversing Seal and his underwater advantage to force Wukong’s retreat 29 30.
• Negotiates a release date at the Beginning of Spring, twenty-four days away. Wukong accepts and uses the interval to restore Flower-Fruit Mountain 31.
• Receives five rewards when the pilgrims finally cross, including the Five-Colored Divine Light 33.

Four Saints’ Marriage Trap

• Recognizes the disguised Bodhisattvas’ trap and pretends to seek a bride. Refuses the suspected wedding circlet and demands Tang Sanzang as the feast 33 34.
• Prolongs the pretense for nearly two months and induces Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra to attack the pilgrims directly 34.
• Escapes the assembled heavenly forces, captures his pursuers with divine light, and releases them near Wukong when his magical power runs low 37 38.
• Settles thirty-six days of delay, carrying six days into Wuzhuang Temple 38.

Wuzhuang Temple

• Poses as Vozhu Zhenshi Heavenly Venerable and offers to heal the Ginseng Fruit Tree with Three-Lights Divine Water 40 43.
• Challenges Tang Sanzang’s confidence in Buddhist authority while the pilgrims are imprisoned 43.
• Stays during Zhen Yuanzi’s wager with Wukong, gains instruction, and advances to middle Golden Immortal 46.
• Obtains three Ginseng Fruits and a tree branch. The quest settles at thirty-two days, with two carried forward 48.

White Tiger Ridge

• Rescues Qiao’er’s parents, recruits Lady White Bone, and establishes a pretend courtship as groundwork for another obstruction 39.
• Returns after Wuzhuang Temple, buys betrothal gifts, and marries Qiao’er under a fabricated mortal family history 48.
• Agrees to make the relationship real at Qiao’er’s request. They live as husband and wife while Lady White Bone begins confronting the approaching pilgrims 49.

Notable Quotes

“I, Ao Tu, sever all ties with you and the Four Seas. We are no longer connected.” 21

“Bimawen, I can’t beat you in martial skill. But skill alone doesn’t win a fight! Behold my treasure!” 29

“I don’t enjoy eating people, and I’m no good at infighting. How could I possibly hold a spiritual rank in the West?” 38